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Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Originally Posted by ActualSpamBot

A parent only has about 3 real jobs. One of them is protecting their kid from hurting themselves before they're old enough to understand the risks of their behaviors. If a parent wants to ok it, that's the parent's prerogative, but the idea that you can't or shouldn't stop a child from engaging in an activity that you find too risky shows me that you don't understand what being a parent is about.

I probably don't, and I probably didn't really word it too well. What I meant is, if your child REALLY wants to play a competitive sport, who am I to stop them from doing so? I'd much rather my kid (granted I don't have any yet, so I this could all change when I do have them lol) playing a sport like football, than sitting at home playing xbox all day getting obese which is a growing problem every where right now. Football is obviously a lot more violent and aggressive than most other sports, but IMO you shouldn't stop your kid from doing that. There are obviously lots of activities I disagree with that are highly dangerous, but football certainly isn't one of them. Besides the odds are HIGHLY stacked against any kid making it pro at the end of the day, which is when it gets the most dangerous obviously.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Parents always have concerns for their children but the game hasnt changed as mich as they make you believe. If anything its getting safer now than it was, and advancements in pads and helmets are continual. To say you wouldnt allow your child to play the game that made your family well off is hypocrtical when you consider its safer today than it was when hestarted playing and more likely will be even safer by the time his kid hypothetically reaches the same level. Hes entitled to his opinion Nd to raise his children as he wishes, but when he makes it public, as hes paid to do, it opens him to critism. I think hes kind of a douche because of what hes said about player safety and the bounty gate. He didnt look at it subjectively he made it personal and ignored the facts. The hits were clean and the sport is safer now than ever.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

The risk of concussions and getting Alzheimer's later on in your life vs playing a sport that you love doing and possibly earning millions to do it, and maybe even have a coaching or media career after you finish with the sport, take your pick. I haven't had kids or plan to until I leave the Army, but at the end of the day, it's your kids decision, if he/she really wants to do something (providing it isn't anything illegal) then IMO you can't just stop him from doing it.

You can stop them if they are under 18 and you are their legal guardian. I have this debate with my wife all the time. My son is almost 9 and she still doesn't feel that he should be playing football. He plays soccer all year without any pads or helmets and somehow that's okay in her mind. Some battles you just can't win. At least she's agreed to let our 6 year old daughter play lacrosse. Baby steps.

Honestly I like both Toomer and Warner and see where they are both coming from. This is one of the rare issues where I really can't chose a side.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Originally Posted by GOTA

At least she's agreed to let our 6 year old daughter play lacrosse.

OMG, talk about a dangerous sport.

Does she know the various nicknames associated with Women's Lax?

WARNING: This post may contain material offensive to those who lack wit, humor, common sense and/or supporting factual or anecdotal evidence. All statements and assertions contained herein may be subject to literary devices not limited to: irony, metaphor, allusion and dripping sarcasm.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Originally Posted by GOTA

You can stop them if they are under 18 and you are their legal guardian. I have this debate with my wife all the time. My son is almost 9 and she still doesn't feel that he should be playing football. He plays soccer all year without any pads or helmets and somehow that's okay in her mind. Some battles you just can't win. At least she's agreed to let our 6 year old daughter play lacrosse. Baby steps.

Honestly I like both Toomer and Warner and see where they are both coming from. This is one of the rare issues where I really can't chose a side.

Man I don't like soccer lol, rugby is a much better sport. I know that you have a legal obligation to give permission for your child to do things by a consent form, but what I'm saying is, if I had a kid I would probably sign that letter to let him play if he really wanted to. Can't say the same about the mrs's!

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

I respect both Warner's and Toomer's opinions. But even more so, I repesct my sister's opinion. She does Neurology reseearch down at NIH whe she does a lot of brain scanning, imaging, etc. And she opened my eyes to the cumulative effects of concussions.

I only played football in high school. And I thought that I never had a Concussion because I had never been "knocked out". But I was told to look at all the times I had my "bell rung", saw "stars", or spoke incoherently after taking/delivering a hit. Then I realized that I may have had more than a few Concussions, however mild they may have been. The effects of Consussions, as I have been told, accumulate over time. So that damage to your brain keeps adding up.

Knowing what I know now....I am having 2nd thoughts about my son, my only child, playing football. Now, he is only 10 months old. But still, I doubt that helmet technology will catch up by the time he can play tackle football. I see the small kids just learning to hit, and they are constantly leading with their head, spearing each other, and getting hurt. For many of us, it was just a part of growing up and learning the game. But the long-term consequences of these can be severe, and they are very real.

I can only imagine the impact this has on guys who play on through college and into the pros.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

I don't have a problem with what Warner said. He gets paid to give an opinon even if that means throwing the game under the bus. He had his "parent" hat on when he gave that opinion. Not a big deal. Amani Toomer kept saying lots of kids would react to Kurt Warner's statement. I don't beleive it because Kurt Warner does not have that kind of "staying" power. Now if Ray Lewis said something like that you better believe people would stop and listen.

That's quite scary. That reminds me of that infamous game against the Dolphins in 07. Boller got knocked out of the game and they showed him sitting on the sideline. He just looked so confused. I think one of the announcers even commented that he doesn't look like he knows where he is.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

I don't have a problem with what either of them said. Anything involving the brain and damage to it is a very scary thing. If you decide you don't want your children taking that risk, then that is a decision you must make as a parent. He has the right to say that regardless of what his current job is. Football can save lives (getting kids off the streets) or, as we are now learning, end lives as well. There isn't really a wrong or a right.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Originally Posted by NJRaven

I don't have a problem with what either of them said. Anything involving the brain and damage to it is a very scary thing. If you decide you don't want your children taking that risk, then that is a decision you must make as a parent. He has the right to say that regardless of what his current job is. Football can save lives (getting kids off the streets) or, as we are now learning, end lives as well. There isn't really a wrong or a right.

Here is where the right an wrong come in. Toomer is wrong to tell Kurt Warner to basically shut up.
If Toomer wants to allow his kids to play football, that's fine. That's not wrong.
If Warner does not want to allow his kids to play football, that's fine too. That's not wrong either.

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Originally Posted by NJRaven

I don't have a problem with what either of them said. Anything involving the brain and damage to it is a very scary thing. If you decide you don't want your children taking that risk, then that is a decision you must make as a parent. He has the right to say that regardless of what his current job is. Football can save lives (getting kids off the streets) or, as we are now learning, end lives as well. There isn't really a wrong or a right.

You don't have a problem with Toomer saying, "Kurt Warner needs to keep his opinions to himself"???

Re: Amani Toomer calls out Kurt Warner

Did anybody just hear Merrill Hoge on SC talking about Warner's comments?

Some of his main points:

His son plays football and the only concussion he has ever got was from crashing bike. (I guess we're going to ignore that the most dangerous concussions are the very small ones that happen frequently during play and add up over time)

If you don't let your kids play football, they will play xbox and eat donuts and become obese. (Totally, there are no other sports in the world.)

He coaches youth football and his kids miss more time from practice from injuries that occur during lunch and recess, not on field injuries. (Sure.)

If anyone wants a prime example of the dangers of football to the brain they can consider Merrill Hoge 'Exhibit A'.